It's not all high-tech and glamour, as you see on TV, but if you're patient, methodical and have an eye for detail, it could be the right career for you. Naming suspects and deducing their motives by analyzing physical evidence--from fingerprints to hair and skin samples--is all in a day's work for investigators. College degrees can be obtained at the associate, bachelor's, or master's level.

Crime Scene Technician Training

You can begin your forensics career with an associate degree in crime scene technology or forensics. There are also associate degree programs in criminal justicethat include crime scene coursework. Some bachelor's degrees in forensics, as well as those in other sciences (such as biology and biochemistry) offer a forensic science specialty. Though hands-on lab work is required, many career colleges offer hybrid programs that allow students to do significant portions of their coursework online.

*Forensic science technicians earn about $22 per hour on average. Earnings generally increase with additional education. Crime lab professionals' salaries vary depending on education and experience, ranging from $40,000 to $85,000, with some lab directors making up to $100,000 per year.